Apparatus for installing or removing a flow control device from a well tubing

ABSTRACT

An orienting mandrel having a pocket for receiving a flow control device and coacting orienting tool for installing and removing a flow control device from the mandrel pocket. The mandrel having a connection at the top and bottom for attachment to a well tubing with the mandrel pocket positioned directly below the top tubing connection and the mandrel including a bore extending between the tubing connections but including a portion offset from the pocket with the tubing connection at the bottom of the mandrel being in alignment with the offset bore portion, and orienting means in the mandrel coacting with the orienting tool. On downward movement through the well tubing the orienting tool coacts with orientation means in the mandrel for moving the flow control device out of alignment with the pocket thereby allowing the tool to pass through the mandrel, but on upward movement the orienting tool moves into alignment with the pocket for allowing flow control devices to be installed or removed from the pocket.

United States Patent [191 Y Terral et al.

[ Apr. 30, 1974 [75] Inventors: Ben D. Terral; William H. Dietz,

both of Houston, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Camco Incorporated, Houston, Tex.

[22] Filed: Jan. 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 320,965

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 208,833, Dec. 16,1971, Pat. No.

Primary ExaminerJames A. Leppink Attorney, Agent, or FirmFulbright &Crooker ABSTRACT An orienting mandrel having a pocket for receiving aflow control device and coacting orienting tool for installing andremoving a flow control device from the mandrel pocket. The mandrelhaving a connection at the top and bottom for attachment to a welltubing with the mandrel pocket positioned directly below the top .tubingconnection and the mandrel including a bore extending between the tubingconnections but including a portion offset from the pocket with thetubing connection at the bottom-of the mandrel being in alignment withthe offset bore portion, and orienting means in the mandrel coactingwith the orienting tool. On downward movement through the well tubingthe orienting tool coacts with orientation means in the mandrel formoving the flow control device out of alignment with the pocket therebyallowing the tool to pass through the mandrel, but on upward movementthe: orienting tool moves into alignment with the pocket for allowingflow control devices to be installed or removed from the pocket.

Q/rl 1 PATENTEDAPR so 1924 /III[AILIYIIAIKH/ APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING ORREMOVING A FLOW CONTROL DEVICE FROM A WELL TUBING This is a division, ofapplication Ser. No. 208,833, filed Dec. 16, l 97l, now U.S. Pat. No.3,727,683.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, it is old to provide a mandrelhaving a sidepocket for receiving a flow control device such as a gaslift valve which is installed and removed'through an orienting sleeve inthe mandrel by a kickover tool. However, kickover tools are generallylengthy in design which is undesirable in certain applications.

The present invention is directed to an improved mandrel and improvedrunning and orienting tool which may be relatively short in length anddoes not requirea kickover tool but in which a flow control device canbe positively installed in a selected mandrel in a well tubing.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a mandrel and an orientingtool for installing and removing flow control devices from a pocket inthe mandrel. The mandrel pocket is positioned directly below the tubingconnection at the top of the mandrel. The mandrel includes a boreextending between the ends of the mandrel and includes an offset portionfrom the pocket and the tubing connection to the well tubing at thebottom of the mandrel is in alignment with the offset bore portion.Orienting means are provided in the mandrel above the pocket fororienting an orienting running too] out of alignment with the pocket ondownward movement through the mandrel but orienting the orientingrunning tool into alignment with the pocket on upward movement throughthe mandrel.

The present invention is further directed to a mandrel having a two-wayorienting sleeve having a first upwardly directed guide surfaceextending downwardly and a deflecting shoulder below the lower end ofthe first guide surface for orienting a running tool out of alignment.with the mandrel pocket on downward movement, and a second downwardlydirected guide surface extending upwardly and positioned below the firstguide surface with a stop shoulder above the top of the second guidesurface for engaging and orientating a running tool into alignment withthe mandrel pocket.

Yet a further object is the provision of an orienting and runningapparatus for coacting with the mandrel for installing and removing aflow control device from the mandrel pocket which includes two radiallylocating fingers, one with a shoulder facing downwardly which coactswith the first guide surface for orienting the running apparatus andflow control device supporting assembly out of alignment with the pocketto allow the orienting tool to pass through the mandrel, and a secondfinger having a shoulder facing upwardly which engages the second guidesurface and stop shoulder to place the tool and flow control handlingassembly in alignment with the pocket allowing the setting or pullingoperation to be completed. A flow control device supporting member isconnected to the running tool body at a point off of the longitudinalaxis of the body for moving the flow control device into and out ofalignment with themandrel pocket as the orientation tool is rotated.

Yet a still further object of the present invention is the provision ofan'orientation or running tool for installing or removing a flow controldevice from a mandrel pocket in which the first locating finger ispivotally connected to the body adjacent the upper end of the fingerwith first spring means urging the first finger outwardly from the bodyand the body having a tapered upper edge for pivoting by obstructionswhile moving freely upwardly through the well bore. The second locatingfinger is pivotally connected to the body adjacent the lower end of thefinger and includes a second spring means urging the second bodyoutwardly and having a tapered lower edge for pivoting by obstructionsand moving freely downwardly through the well tubing. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A and 1B are continuations ofeach other and are fragmentary elevational views, in cross section,illustrating the apparatus of the present invention shown in positionfor installing a flow control device in the mandrel pocket,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, in cross section, showing theapparatus of the present invention moving downwardly through the mandreland bypassing the pocket,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion of theorientating running rool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, andparticularly to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the present invention is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 10 and generally includes a mandrel12 and an orienting and running tool 14.

The mandrel 12 includes the usual means for connection in a well tubing16 such as a threaded box 18 at the top of the mandrel and a threadedbox 20 at the bottom ofthe mandrel 12.

The mandrel 12 includes a pocket 22 and a bore 24 extending between thetubing connections 18 and 20 for passage of well tools through themandrel 12. However, it is to be noted that the pocket 22 is positioneddirectly below the tubing connection 18 in the upper portion of the bore24 although preferably not coaxial therewith. However, as will be seen,the pocket 22 is in sufficient alignment with the upper portion of thebore to allow the installation and removal of flow control devices 26,such as a gas lift valve, from the pocket 22 without requiring a lengthykickover tool having pivoted connections for transversely shifting avalve from the mandrel bore to an offset sidepocket.

The pocket 22 may also include a guide means 28 for preventing otherwell tools passing through the bore 24 from catching on the sidepocketand is sized to allow only flow control devices 26, such as a gas liftvalve, to engage the pocket 22. Deflector 30 directs other well toolsinto the bore 24, all as more fully described in 00- pending patent U.S.Pat. No. 3,709,294.

A two-way orientation sleeve generally indicated by the referencenumeral 32 is positioned in the mandrel 12 above the pocket 22 andincludes means for orienting the flow control device 26 carried by therunning tool 14 out of alignment with the pocket 22 when the tool 14 ismoved downwardly through the well tubing and the orienting means 32, andalso includes means for orienting the flow control device 26 intoalignment with the pocket 22 upon upward movement of tool 14 into theorientation means 32.

As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 2, the orientation sleeve 32 generallyincludes a first guide surface 34 providing an upwardly directed surfacefor engaging the downwardly moving tool 14. The guide surface 34 ispreferably helical and extends downwardly. A slot 36 may be providedleading from the bottom of the first guide surface 34 and terminates ina deflecting shoulder 38. A second glide surface 40 is provided belowthe first guide surface 34. The second guide surface 40 is preferablyhelical and extends upwardly and a stop shoulder 42 is positioned abovethe top of the second guide surface for engaging and guiding theorientation tool 14 to position the flow control device 26 over thepocket 22 for installing or removing a flow control device 26.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2, the orientation or running tool 14 mayinclude a first body 56 and a second body '58 telescopically movable inthe body 56. Spring means 62 is provided between the-body 56 and 58 foryieldably urging the body 58 upwardly. A suitable connector 60 isprovided connected to the body 58 such as a threaded connection wherebythe tool 14 may be moved in the well tubing 16 and one or more mandrels12 by any suitable means such as a wireline or a hydraulic pump inassembly, both of which are conventional and no further description needbe made.

A flow control handling device 80 is provided connected to the body 56of the running tool 14 for supporting the flow control device 26 forinstalling the flow control device 26 in the pocket 22 or for supportinga retrieving mechanism (not shown) for removing the flow control device26 from the pocket 22. It is to be noted that the axis of the handlingapparatus 80 is connected to the body 56 at a point off of thelongitudinal axis of the body 56. This eccentric connection allows therunning tool 14 to be rotated in one direction for bypassing the pocket22 in a particular mandrel 12 and moving down the well tubing 16 toother mandrels 12 for selectively installing or removing flow controldevices 26 in the desired mandrel 12. When the desired mandrel 12 isreached, the running tool l4 may be rotated to rotate the eccentricconnection 80 into alignment with the desired pocket 22 for installingor removing a flow control device 26.

The running tool 14 includes two radially extending locating fingers 64and 66. Locating finger 64 is connected to the body 56 by a pin 68adjacent the upper end of the finger 64 and a spring 70 is providedyieldably urging the finger 64 radially outward whereby a downwardlydirected shoulder 72 on the finger 64 may engage the upwardly directedguide surface 34 and then enter the slot 36 for rotating the runningtool 14 to move the eccentric handling device 80 and flow control device26, as best seen in FIG. 2, out of alignment with the well pocket 22.

Thus as the running tool 14 is moved down the tubing 16 and through theorientating sleeve 32, the shoulder 72 on finger 64 contacts theupwardly directed guide surface 34 and rotates the running tool 14 tomove the eccentric handling apparatus 80 out of alignment with thepocket 22. As the running tool 14 is further moved down the orientingsleeve 32, the first locater finger 64 engages a deflecting shoulder 38and moves inwardly allowing the running tool 14 to readily pass downwardthrough the orienting sleeve 32 and the mandrel 12 without becomingaligned with the pocket 22. As best seen in FIG. 2, the end of the flowcontrol device 26, is outside the sidepocket 22 and passes by the pocket22 and the deflector 30 will engage the remainder of the running tool 14and directs tool 14 into the offset portion 24 of the mandrel bore. Itis also noted that the first locater finger 64 includes a tapered upperedge 74 so that the first locater finger may readily bypass obstructionsin the well tubing 16 and mandrel 12 as the running tool 14 is movedupwardly in the well tubing.

The second locating finger 66 is pivotally connected to the body 58 by apin 82 and is yieldably urged radially outward by a spring 84. Thelocating finger 66 includes a tapered lower edge 86 whereby the finger66 may readily pivot by obstructions in the well tubing and the mandrel12 as the tool 14 is carried downwardly in a well tubing. However, thelocating finger 66 includes an upwardly directed shoulder 88, which,when the running tool 14 is moved upwardly through the desired mandrel12, will contact the downwardly directed guide surface 42 to rotate therunning tool 14, as best seen in FIG. 1A, thereby rotating the eccentrichandling apparatus into position over the pocket 22. As the locaterfinger 66 reaches the uppermost portion of the guide surface 40 itcontacts the stop shoulder 42 to indicate that the well control device26 is aligned over the pocket 22.

When the locater finger 66 contacts and engages the stop shoulder 42,the running tool 14 may then be lowered for installing or removing aflow control device 26 from the pocket 22. Of course, as the runningtool 14 is being removed from the well tubing after performing itsoperation, the finger 66 will again contact the shoulder 42. Asufiicient upward movement on the outer body 56 will longitudinally movebody 56 relative to the internal body 58 and overcome the spring 62 sothat a retracting shoulder 90 on the outer body 56 will contact thetapered surface 56 on the locater finger 66 and retract finger 66 awayfrom the stop shoulder 42.

Thus, flow control devices may be installed in a well tubing on arelatively short running too] 14, which is particularly useful inhydraulic pump operations, although the present invention is equallyapplicable to wireline service, and the running tool 14 will activelyand positively align the handling connection 80 over the well pocket 22for installation and for removing a flow control device 26 from the wellpocket 22. The running tool 14 may be run down the well tubing 16 andthe upper locating finger 64 will contact the upwardly directed guidesurface 34 of each mandrel 12 to rotate the running tool 14 and move thecontrol device 26 out of alignment with the seat 22. The running tool 14may be continued to be moved downward through the mandrel 12 and thewell bore 16 to be set in any selected mandrel 12. When the running tool14 reaches the selected mandrel and passes through the orientationsleeve 32, it is then raised whereby the lower 10- cater finger 66 maycontact the downwardly directed guide surface 40 and come intoengagement with the stop shoulder 42 at which time the eccentrichandling apparatus 80 and flow control device 26 or tool pulling deviceis aligned with the pocket 22. The running tool 14 may be lowered toperform the desired operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for running or pulling a flow control device in amandrel having a two-way orientating sleeve with a pocket positioneddirectly below the sleeve comprising,

a body,

a first locating finger pivotally connected to the body and including adownwardly directed shoulder for engaging the orientating sleeve,

a second locating finger pivotally connected to the body and includingan upwardly directed shoulder for engaging the'orientating sleeve, and

a flowcontrol device carrying member connected to the lower end of thebody at a point off of the longitudinal axis of the body.

2. The apparatus of claim 5 including,

spring means yieldably urging each of said fingers outwardly.

3. An apparatus for running or pulling a flow control device in amandrel having a two-way orientating sleeve with a pocket positioneddirectly below the sleeve comprising,

a body,

a first locating finger pivotally connected to the body adjacent theupper end of the finger and including a downwardly directed shoulder forengaging the orientating sleeve, and having a tapered upper edge forpivoting by obstructions in moving upwardly,

first spring means urging said first finger outwardly from the body,

a second locating finger pivotally connected to the body adjacent thelower end of the finger and including an upwardly directed shoulder forengaging the orientating sleeve, and having a tapered lower edge forpivoting by obstructions in moving downwardly,

second spring means urging said second finger outwardly from the bodysaid first and second locating fingers are radially spaced from eachother, and

a'flow control device carrying member connected to the lower end of thebody at a point off of the longitudinal axis of the body.

1. An apparatus for running or pulling a flow control device in amandrel having a two-way orientating sleeve with a pocket positioneddirectly below the sleeve comprising, a body, a first locating fingerpivotally connected to the body and including a downwardly directedshoulder for engaging the orientating sleeve, a second locating fingerpivotally connected to the body and including an upwardly directedshoulder for engaging the orientating sleeve, and a flow control devicecarrying member connected to the lower end of the body at a point off ofthe longitudinal axis of the body.
 2. The appAratus of claim 5including, spring means yieldably urging each of said fingers outwardly.3. An apparatus for running or pulling a flow control device in amandrel having a two-way orientating sleeve with a pocket positioneddirectly below the sleeve comprising, a body, a first locating fingerpivotally connected to the body adjacent the upper end of the finger andincluding a downwardly directed shoulder for engaging the orientatingsleeve, and having a tapered upper edge for pivoting by obstructions inmoving upwardly, first spring means urging said first finger outwardlyfrom the body, a second locating finger pivotally connected to the bodyadjacent the lower end of the finger and including an upwardly directedshoulder for engaging the orientating sleeve, and having a tapered loweredge for pivoting by obstructions in moving downwardly, second springmeans urging said second finger outwardly from the body said first andsecond locating fingers are radially spaced from each other, and a flowcontrol device carrying member connected to the lower end of the body ata point off of the longitudinal axis of the body.